☀️Big 'Alien' Keeps Box Office Revival Going
CBS NEWS extending 'Mornings' / WBD put on credit watch / UNI Spielberg pic in talks with Firth
Evenin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, August 18, 2024.
Where I have excellent news for any journalists who not only want to work in a dying business — but also want to smell like it!
It seems HEARST’s Esquire is getting into the fragrance biz, with a new line of colognes with varietals like “Editor in Chief” and “New Journalist,” which I’m guessing smells like a mix of ramen noodles and the envelope glue from student loan “Past Due” notices.
But, you know I love a good hustle — so godspeed Esquire! Especially at a “New Journalist salary-friendly” $120 a bottle, I’m sure it’ll really turn things around at the HEARST Corporation.
Let me know when you want to collab with Richard and I on a “Beleaguered Columnist” varietal.
PLUS: If you’re wondering why new local D2C streaming businesses for some teams may not be getting much uptake — here’s how many regular season NBA games will be available to watch nationally, either on ESPN, TNT/MAX or ABC this year (or if you add on the NBA TV channel in the left column, a network with limited cable TV distribution).
There are 82 games in the NBA season.
AND: Always nice when you spend $2B on your new L.A. arena, and the . . . entry-by-smartphone ticketing system doesn’t work on opening night.
Bruno Mars concertgoers got in eventually, although the show started close to 2 hours late on Friday night. Thankfully Lady Gaga was able to stay up late to come out for a song.
WAKEUP BOX OFFICE POLL
Well, turns out my $42M break-point was pretty spot on this weekend, but yes the bulls win again on the whole here with Alien: Romulus.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
Lo and behold . . . the 2024 box office is now in a better position vs. 2023 than when the summer started, and even after some mid-point momentum (details below).
As DISNEY is also proving this summer — it’s amazing what any given summer’s movie slate can do (a slate which of course was put in motion multiple years ago).
Here’s how the American public voted with their dollars this weekend, including a robust lineup in the specialty space, and a surprise showing from, uh, Coraline. 🤔